Morning Ritual

 

The morning Ritual. Morning routine before I start my day was, without fail, all about getting out of bed, making myself some coffee and starting the day. No matter how much sleep I was able to get or if it was particularly warm outside, the first thing I did was make a cup of tea, light some candles, put on some music and get ready for whatever life had in store, whether that meant working or resting, walking or taking care of the kids or just being me. The choice was always based on what felt good for me, but there were also times when I needed to do something that wasn't exactly comfortable but wasn't going to be painful either. It always came down to feeling like things were going to get better or even worse depending on what is about to happen. However, every morning I would take everything one step at a time, make one small change after another until eventually, I started setting goals based on what was missing from my life.

For some reason, this process seemed easy and natural. But at 26 years old, as an almost full-time student who makes between $18 and 20k per year through part-time work, there are probably lots of things to be done. And every moment adds up to hours, days, weeks, months, or longer depending on your situation. Having a pre-set schedule usually helps you accomplish more within a certain amount of time, but still there can be times you want to get away from the daily grind to relax with yourself. Or maybe even have fun! There are no set rules. At least not unless they're followed. So for me, before I got home from school or headed out to find some new friends, there wasn't a plan in place for how after lunch would go. As someone who tends to stay in the same spot until 10 p.m., I only went to sleep around 5-6 p.m. But there were other events that I needed to attend and I had to figure out my own path each morning. For example, at 4 p.m., I need to call some family members and check in while eating breakfast for the day. This was actually an easier process than you might expect to be doing it while trying to make a friend. When we are having our regular routines at home, there is no way that we would need to think too much when we go to school, work, etc. because we typically don't need anything more than food and a place to lay our head. But, before I head out into the world outside of my house, I like to know where I am going and just what's next for me. In order for me to know where I'm going, I need to have somewhere to go. Otherwise, if I feel stuck going somewhere, where would I go? If there's nowhere going, why would I want to go there? Not knowing where I'm going will probably lead me to go somewhere else. Even though I may end up finding a different venue to leave, then I'll likely still want to go back to familiar sites. That is just the nature of human beings. We need places to go. Therefore, since we get so many opportunities to go somewhere new, we tend to spend a lot of time looking for them. A great way to save time and be well prepared for my future life is to research locations that fit my needs, preferences, and schedule to ensure I don't waste any time. Once I've found that perfect place, I won't waste any energy finding other alternative venues to visit. Sometimes the best places will already be nearby. One time, my professor and her family were visiting Florida when she showed me pictures of a cute little town called Kismet Beach located only a couple miles from my hometown. Of course, I wanted to hear about it, but the drive there was boring and took forever. She told me the main attractions were "a really nice beach and boardwalk, amazing restaurants and bars, and a cool festival called Carnival." Since I didn't even have an interest in going anywhere else, Kismet Beach sounded like a pretty exciting and relaxing destination for me, especially as a college student! Although my favorite part was definitely the boat rides since everyone was wearing sun hats! They had plenty of opportunities to enjoy themselves so besides their usual activities, they didn't feel lonely or depressed, which made me happy. Now that I've become a mom and I have several children under four years old, I know that sometimes my friends will ask me when I'm moving to make sure I won't say no to a trip or a chance to see some entertainment options for themselves. After thinking about it, I do want to make the most of those moments and I want to tell them when I come back so they'll know where I'm going so I can keep track of them! All that said, I still enjoy spending time with people. Whether it's checking a restaurant's menu or just sitting with a loved one and enjoying a few laughs, it feels good to meet new people. Getting together with co-workers is good fun to talk to again. Also, if I find an opportunity to do activities with friends, such as playing frisbee outside or watching soccer, then that can be quite enjoyable. Some may disagree, but seeing strangers laughing and smiling can make us feel closer and connected. What's next? It doesn't just happen overnight. Sure, we can take classes, volunteer with organizations that benefit us, attend job fairs, participate in community services, meet new friends, etc. But that doesn't mean it's over. Every now and then there's a season when I see posts over and over of students celebrating the birthday of their teachers, classmates, and friends! Then there are also holidays where families gather for meals and shopping trips or picnics! While these are typically celebrated in the fall or winter, I do think that there are ways to celebrate them whenever they're due. Here are just two ideas:

Make Christmas Cards

There is nothing like giving yourself gifts to unwind about Christmas time. Making homemade cards filled with handmade gifts can help brighten up your day or, as some people call “Christmas joy.” It can also bring a smile to a person's face! For each gift you choose, pick something personal to make that person look forward to getting every year. For some, they'll get to pick something specific that the recipient wants, such as a book, painting, or music, but most people use something their child is interested in or even something that the receiver does like cooking, cleaning, gardening, or landscaping. You can also buy personalized or custom cards to send to anyone that has special memories associated with Christmas just by adding words or dates on the card to make it appear more meaningful. Take photos of each Christmas picture while creating them. Print them out and hang them in homes and offices that celebrate the occasion!

Do Santa Claus Stuffing

You may not believe it, but Santa Claus does, in fact, exist! He lives somewhere near us and every December, he goes into his workshop and brings presents wrapped in gold paper. This is why we all get excited about Christmas because the stories, images, smells, and sounds associated with him are sure to give everyone (and their kids) happiness and laughter. With these items, Santa invites the whole family for a wonderful holiday celebration of sharing love and caring. Don't forget to add some candles, decorations, or string lights! Just make sure the presents should be unwrapped on Christmas Eve, not the night before.

All of these ideas can truly transform your quality of life by helping you create an environment where you want to live and enjoy the experience. So make the most of your mornings, and plan ahead for what's in store for your entire week! By following these tips, you'll have everything you need to make your days the best ones possible. Happy waking up!